Tag Archives: Jim Patterson

The Phoenix Art Museum Board announced a $2.5M gift from Suzanne and Bud Selig to be used toward the funding of a Chief Curator, a position that is transformational for a museum of its size. This significant contribution is one of the largest gifts Phoenix Art Museum has received in recent years.

Suzanne Selig, who is a member of Phoenix Art Museum’s Board of Trustees and her husband Bud, the Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball are avid supporters of the arts and actively contribute to several cultural organizations in their home state of Wisconsin. “Bud and I truly love Phoenix Art Museum and wanted our contribution to be applied toward something that is instrumental in the growth of this wonderful institution,” said Sue Selig. “This museum holds a special place in our hearts and we hope our contribution allows it to develop into a museum that is recognized both nationally and internationally.

Recently at Phoenix Art Museum the position of Chief Curator has been the responsibility of the Museum’s director; making it a stand-alone position will allow the Director to concentrate efforts on fundraising and expanding the international visibility of the museum.

Amada Cruz, The Sybil Harrington Director of Phoenix Art Museum added, “As the first Chief Curator in over a decade, The Selig Family Chief Curator will develop an overall exhibitions and collections strategy that benefits the largest art museum in the Southwest. This position will allow our Museum to move to its next phase of expanded programming and enhanced visitor experiences.”

The Selig Family Chief Curator will have curatorial oversight of exhibitions, collections, and programming, and will provide strategic leadership to the Museum’s curatorial staff. Along with curatorial responsibilities, this position will also assist with fundraising for exhibitions and art acquisitions.

“We are both grateful and honored by the generous gift from Sue and Bud Selig,” said Phoenix Art Museum Board of Trustees Chairman Jim Patterson. “Their gift will enable the Phoenix Art Museum to add a Chief Curator to our talented curatorial team that we were not otherwise in a position to do; this will enable the Museum to reach new heights in curatorial excellence.”

The Phoenix Art Museum Board of Trustees has named Amada Cruz as The Sybil Harrington Director of the Phoenix Art Museum, succeeding James K. Ballinger, who announced his intention to retire this past April.

Cruz, currently Executive Director at San Antonio-based Artpace, one of the premier artist residency and exhibition programs in the world, will assume her new responsibilities on Feb. 1, 2015. Her selection, with counsel and guidance from one of the nation’s most respected executive leadership and search firms, Russell Reynolds Associates, concludes an intensive seven-month process conducted by the Museum’s executive committee, which served as the search committee.

“Amada has a solid track record of building programs and new initiatives at Bard College, USA Artists and, most recently, Artpace,” said Phoenix Art Museum Board of Trustees Chairman Jim Patterson. “The search process was thorough, comprehensive and demanding and the search committee was unanimous in choosing Amada as the new director to build upon the remarkable foundation established by Jim Ballinger and his staff. She brings a very high-energy, creative and entrepreneurial approach to museum leadership and we are confident she can lead us to the next level of distinction.”

Ballinger, who has been the Museum director for 32 years and will celebrate his 40th anniversary with the museum in December, will assist in the transition “for as long as my input, assistance and counsel is needed to ensure that the transition is smooth so Amada can hit the ground running and continue the Museum’s forward progress,” he said. “She is a highly respected arts professional whose diverse experience, extensive background, knowledge and innovative spirit will serve Phoenix Art Museum and our community well for years to come.”

Susan Berresford, former President of the Ford Foundation, lauded the choice of Cruz. “Amada Cruz is a true star, bringing sophisticated knowledge of arts and artists and a determination to build institutions that nurture artists and their work,” she said. “Phoenix Art Museum has chosen someone who is smart, imaginative and a pleasure to work with. Bravo.”

As chief executive at Artpace, Cruz, who was born in Havana, Cuba, is responsible for the artistic and programmatic vision of the organization and serves as chief fundraiser. Artpace residencies, which are awarded by nomination and selected by a panel of international art professionals or a guest curator, are highly coveted. Artpace is an internationally respected public institution and a cornerstone of contemporary art.

“Phoenix Art Museum is a world-class educational and cultural institution, and reflects Jim Ballinger’s passion, vision, leadership and deep commitment to excellence,” Cruz said. “He has also built an extraordinary team of exceptionally talented, knowledgeable and devoted professionals whose contributions to the Museum’s success can not be overstated. I look forward to what we can achieve together for the people of Arizona and the entire Southwest.”

Previously, Cruz had served as Program Director for United States Artists in Los Angeles where she was responsible for all programming activities of a Ford and Rockefeller Foundations initiative. She also had been Executive Director of Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue in New York City, which awarded grants to visual artists in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. Her experience also includes positions as Director of the Center for Curatorial Studies Museum at Bard College; Acting Chief Curator and Manilow Curator of Exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago; and Associate Curator, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian Institution. She began her career as a Curatorial Intern at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Cruz has served as a juror and advisor for numerous selections panels for institutional and individual grants across the country.

The Phoenix Art Museum is planning a series of events celebrating Ballinger’s tenure and legacy. Additional information will be released in the weeks ahead.

UMB Bank, n.a., a subsidiary of UMB Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: UMBF), announces the opening of a new full-service banking center in Phoenix, Ariz. The new center will be located in the prestigious Camelback Corridor at 2777 E. Camelback Road and will replace the company’s current Raintree location. UMB plans to move into the new location this summer. The branch will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.

In addition to offering full-service consumer banking, the Camelback location will include private banking, investment and wealth management services and commercial banking.

“We have moved our banking center to the Camelback corridor to provide our clients a more convenient location and better accessibility to our associates,” said Jim Patterson, CEO of UMB Bank in Arizona. “Our commitment to this market continues to grow, and we are making a sizable investment to expand our presence in the Arizona region.”

The Camelback location is one of two banking centers UMB has in the Phoenix and Scottsdale market. Its Kierland Commons banking center is located at 16210 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To contact the Kierland office, call (480) 315-6800. To contact the Camelback office, call (480) 912-6720 or visit the UMB website at www.umb.com.

UMB Bank, n.a., of UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: UMBF), announced that Robert Faver has been promoted to president of UMB’s Arizona region. In this role, he is responsible for leading the UMB commercial banking team in Arizona, building long-term client relationships and targeting new business relationships in the community.

Faver brings to this position 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to this position, he was senior vice president and chief credit officer at UMB. Before joining UMB, Faver was employed with M&I Bank in Phoenix, Ariz., where he served as vice president of commercial banking for 14 years.

“We are pleased to have someone of Robert’s caliber in this position,” said Jim Patterson, chairman and chief executive officer of UMB’s Arizona region. “He has been an outstanding performer and leader in our bank, and he brings invaluable experience, integrity and expertise to this expanded role.”

Faver earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University. He is a member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.